Sometimes all it takes is a little flesh. Photo: Ramsey Smith Trout that live in the lower sections of rivers like the Kanektok and the Arolik in Western Alaska get a lot of their calories from salmon flesh. That means that at Alaska West we spend a lot of time tying and fishing patterns that…
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flies
Veverka’s Mantis Shrimp – From Its Creator
Classic fly patterns are classics for a reason. They simply work. Bob Ververka’s Mantis Shrimp is one of those patterns. Classic flies, like classic cars, can be modified, painted a new color, add or take away parts to match personalties. Some would say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Whichever way you lean, this…
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Deneki Chronicles: Bonefish Flies – Our Favorites for South Andros (Updated)
It’s been a while since we’ve ran a comprehensive list of our favorite bonefish flies for South Andros. While we still use many of the same patterns, we’ve developed a few more favorites for our flats, and today we tell you about those favorites. Our fishery is pretty unique when compared to other bonefishing locations….
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Introducing the Swim Coach
Umpqua shared a new fly it has for 2020 created by world renowned signature tyer Charlie Craven. We introduce to you, the Swim Coach. “The Swim Coach developed over several years in my never-ending quest for a fly that would present a large profile without being bulky and overweight. Working from an Intruder concept, the…
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Which Color Should I Pick?
The following are Stuart Foxall’s weapons for the Kanektok River this week. Stuart is a good friend of Deneki and a veteran on the Kanektok. He never wonders to himself, “which color will work today?” He already has his confidence patterns ready to go! And when fishing for an anadromous fish that is appropriately refereed…
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Be Prepared to Alter your Flies in the Field
One common attribute many of the best fly anglers have is an ability to make adjustments on the go. Conditions on the water are always changing and there are an uncountable amount of variables that can make a difference in success when fishing. Some words to live by for myself are “winners adjust”. When on…
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Tying The Mole Crab (Rattle Variant)
NOTE: If you’re viewing this in a newsletter or a reader, click here to see the video on our website. This week for Fly Tying Friday, Jack Reis goes over a pattern that has earned a spot in any flat walker’s fly box because of its versatility in seducing a range of different species. Take…
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Steelhead Flies: Modern ‘Spins’ on Classic Patterns
We recently received a great request from one of our readers (thanks, Ray!) for a fresh step by step post on how to tie some of our favorite ‘smaller’ fly patterns for summer and/or winter steelhead using modern materials and techniques. Naturally, we reached out to our good friend and arguably one of the most…
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Alaska Silver Salmon Flies – Our Favorites (Updated)
Our summer seasons in Alaska and British Columbia might be winding down but that doesn’t mean our massive run of silver salmon has! In fact, our silvers actually continue to push long after the end of our season. We have a feeling that might the case in your neck of the woods too, so whether…
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Timeless Tips: Selecting Bonefish Flies
How do you choose which bonefish fly to fish on any given flat? Keep these three basic variables in mind – color, size/weight and sizzle! Color Most of the time, you want the color of your fly to basically match the color of the flat. The match doesn’t need to be exact, but it should…
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